Members of the city’s cycling clubs and Hull based Principle Contractor, PBS Construction Limited, will join the Hull Culture and Leisure Board member Councillor Dave Craker to officially mark the start of work on the brand new facility on Monday 5 December.
Hull City Council in partnership with Hull Culture and Leisure Limited and the national governing body for cycling, British Cycling, have teamed up to deliver the 1km closed loop cycle circuit at land adjacent to Ennerdale Leisure Centre. It will be the only one of its kind in East Yorkshire with the nearest facility in York.
Councillor Terry Geraghty, Hull City Council Portfolio Holder for Culture and Leisure and Chair of Hull Culture and Leisure Limited, said:
“I am delighted to see work starting on site and this is a key milestone for the scheme. I am looking forward to seeing the progress of the build and its completion next autumn.
“The new circuit will be an exciting addition to the area, community and the cycling clubs. It will help meet increasing demand for road racing in the region, offering a fantastic facility for training sessions, races and other events including competitions all year round.”
Cycling on the open road can be daunting for many would be cyclists but a new dedicated cycle circuit in Hull means cyclists of all ages can ride and race their bikes away from traffic.
The circuit will have a number of loops and straight lines to help cyclists gain confidence and develop their skills. It will also offer opportunities for cyclists of all abilities from delivering safe coaching environment for beginners to competitions for elite riders, seven-days-a-week, continuing to build on the legacy from the Rio Olympics and Tour de France.
The strip of tarmac will be six metres wide and will be completely fenced in to make it safe. The plans also include the creation of two ponds the design of which will incorporate ecological enhancements and native planting of marginal species, a redeveloped and extended car park with a lit path connecting the circuit to the car park and leisure centre to improve accessibility, lighting will also be installed next to the circuit so it can be utilised all year round and a bike hire facility will be installed at Ennerdale Leisure Centre to ensure that people can take part even if they do not have a bike.
It is not just cycle racing and cycle clubs that will benefit from this excellent facility. Hull Culture and Leisure also have plans to make this circuit a much used facility by the local community, with a comprehensive schools programme, cycle sessions for complete beginners and balance bike sessions.
The new facility is due to be completed by August 2017, offering a high quality facility that will benefit cyclists, families and the wider community.
